http://www.genins.com/blog/View General Insurance Services's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.genins.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:48b9130b-ec78-4085-9fc6-9c349e40aa1durn:uuid:d5f1085a-ccc9-4fb4-a526-85e857353180<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000002285736XSmall.jpg' align='left' />For many families, adding a teen driver to their car insurance policy can prove to be painfully expensive. After all, insurance companies generally consider teens as high-risk drivers. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep teen insurance costs to...Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:15:38 -0600<p><img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;border: 0px solid;" alt="Teen Driver" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000002285736XSmall.jpg" />For many families, adding a teen driver to their car insurance policy can prove to be painfully expensive. After all, insurance companies generally consider teens as high-risk drivers. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep teen insurance costs to a minimum.</p> <p>Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get ready to add your teen to the family insurance policy:</p> <p><strong>Make the grade</strong></p> <p>Typically, the higher grades a teen earns in school, the less their car insurance coverage will cost. Most insurers offer anywhere between 10 and 25% discounts for teens who maintain a B average or higher. Not only will this save you money, but it will also be a great incentive for your teen to keep up her grades. Consider telling your teen if their average drops below a B, she'll have to take a break from driving until she can make the grade. </p> <p><strong>Increase your deductible</strong> </p> <p>Most people cringe at the thought of a high deductible insurance policy. However, a higher deductible often means lower premiums-and that can save you loads of money when you're adding a teen driver to your policy. Your insurance premiums will probably increase significantly when you add your teen driver, so you'll want to do everything possible to bring that premium down. You can achieve a lower premium by raising your deductible. However, if you choose a higher deductible, it's important to stress that all the drivers in your family must be extremely careful on the road. If someone gets into an accident, you'll have to pay more out of pocket before your insurance kicks in-and to top it off, your insurance rates will go up. Be sure to communicate this clearly to your teen driver. </p> <p><strong>Keep a clean record</strong> </p> <p>According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds have the highest rate of car crashes than drivers of any age. Sadly, many of these accidents prove to be fatal. Many teens start off driving safely, but after a few months, become overly confident and start driving recklessly to show off for their friends. It's critical to make sure that your teen is and remains a safe driver-not just for the sake of your insurance rates, but also for their safety. </p> <p>If your teen has an accident or even gets a speeding ticket, your insurance rates will jump significantly. You may want to give your teen extra motivation to be safe behind the wheel. Explain to them that driving is a privilege, and if they receive a traffic violation you'll have to take away that privilege. </p> <p><strong>Consider an older car</strong> </p> <p>Many parents are tempted to buy their teen a new car that includes all the latest safety bells and whistles. However, it's important to remember that new cars often mean higher insurance premiums. Consider buying an older used car for your teen or giving him or her the oldest car on your insurance policy. </p> <p><strong>Keep your policy up-to-date</strong> </p> <p>Be sure to review your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/" title="Valparaiso Car Insurance" target="_self">Valparaiso Car Insurance</a> policy with an agent at <strong>General Insurance Services</strong> and ensure that all the information is accurate and up-to-date. Once your teen graduates from high school or celebrates his 18th birthday, your insurance rates may drop. Also, if your teen heads off to college without a car, you may be able to take them off your policy for the time being. (However, before you remove your teen from your policy, confirm that your teen will not be driving at all. It could cost you big if he were to have an accident without insurance.)</p>urn:uuid:4ee04e27-cf4d-4d3a-b685-b8b4f8718110<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000009764212XSmall.jpg' align='left' />As the economy continues on its downward spiral, consumers across the nation are tightening their belts and trying to save money wherever they can. Unfortunately, many people don't realize that they're losing untold amounts of money by overpaying on ...Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:03:50 -0600<img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;border: 0px solid;" alt="Car Insurance" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000009764212XSmall.jpg" />As the economy continues on its downward spiral, consumers across the nation are tightening their belts and trying to save money wherever they can. Unfortunately, many people don't realize that they're losing untold amounts of money by overpaying on car insurance.<br /> <br /> If you're looking to save on auto insurance, steer clear of these common car insurance blunders:<br /> <br /> <strong>Blunder #1: Not shopping around for the best car insurance quote</strong><br /> <br /> If you go with the first car insurance company that comes your way, you could be losing hundreds of dollars each year. It's worth your while to shop around and try to find the best deal out there. When it comes time to renew your insurance, it may be easy to stick with the same insurer you've had for years-but you won't save any money that way. Car insurance companies will calculate your rates differently, so you may be able to find a much better deal from someone else.<br /> <br /> <strong>Blunder #2: Choosing your state's minimum coverage requirements</strong><br /> <br /> Although you may be tempted to choose the bare minimum coverage amounts required in your state, this could cost you in the long run. Just because you are in compliance with state laws doesn't mean that you're fully protected. If you're underinsured, a major car accident could wreak havoc on your personal finances. Everyone's situation and budget is different, so talk to your financial advisor to discuss how much coverage you need. <br /> <br /> <strong>Blunder #3: Opting for the lowest car insurance deductible</strong><br /> <br /> In the car insurance world, the deductible is the amount of money you'll have to pay out of pocket on car repairs before your insurance company starts covering costs. Many consumers make the mistake of assuming the lowest deductible will save them money. However, this is not always the case. <br /> <br /> Generally, if you go with a lower deductible, you'll have to pay a higher premium. In the long run, you may be able to save more money by choosing a high deductible insurance plan with a lower premium. Do your homework to figure out what makes the most sense for your unique situation.<br /> <br /> <strong>Blunder #4: Choosing car insurance based only on cost</strong><br /> <br /> While you should definitely shop around for a great price on car insurance, this isn't the only factor you should consider. As you compare car insurance, look at the various benefits each insurer has to offer. Choose the coverage that best suits your needs and then compare prices.<br /> <br /> <strong>Blunder #5: Missing out on major discounts</strong><br /> <br /> If you're a safe driver or if you insure your car and home with the same company, you may be eligible for a discount. Take some extra time to look into what discounts are available from various insurers. You could save hundreds of dollars this year.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Contact an agent at <strong>General Insurance Services</strong> to make sure your <a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/" style="font-size: 1em;" target="_self">Valparaiso Car Insurance</a> has you fully covered.</span>urn:uuid:be03556d-691c-40fb-bda8-13a352b9d181<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000000229568XSmall.jpg' align='left' />With the soaring cost of gasoline, many people are seeking more economical ways of getting around. Increasingly, people are car-pooling or taking the bus. Many city dwellers rely solely on mass transit and taxis to get around; they rent cars whenever...Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:39:31 -0600<img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;border: 0px solid;" alt="Valparaiso Car Insurance" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000000229568XSmall.jpg" />With the soaring cost of gasoline, many people are seeking more economical ways of getting around. Increasingly, people are car-pooling or taking the bus. Many city dwellers rely solely on mass transit and taxis to get around; they rent cars whenever they need to take longer trips. In at least 20 American cities, car-sharing clubs have sprung up. These clubs own vehicles that are available for hourly rentals to club members. The idea is to give people who occasionally need a car access to one without the cost and inconvenience of ownership. <br /> <br /> In all of these circumstances, people retain the option of driving when the need arises. This is not a problem if nothing goes wrong. However, what happens if someone has an accident while using a car-sharing club vehicle? Who will pay for the resulting injuries or damage? The driver will likely assume that the vehicle&rsquo;s owner has insurance to pay for any damages, and that may be true. However, there are some good reasons not to rely on the club&rsquo;s insurance: <ul> <li>The club may fail to pay the premium on its policy, causing the insurance company to cancel it. </li> <li>The club may fail to inform the insurance company that it has purchased the vehicle the member is driving. There is no guarantee that the club's policy automatically covers newly acquired autos. </li> <li>The club may fail to comply with a policy condition, giving the insurance company justification for denying the claim. </li> <li>The club's policy may exclude coverage for that particular loss. </li> <li>The club's insurance limits may not be high enough to fully cover the loss. </li> </ul> In truth, the driver of one of these vehicles has no control over the amount and terms of the club's insurance, nor can he control the club's actions in the event of a claim. These same issues will apply if he rents a car or borrows one from a friend. What is the occasional driver to do? Strange as it may sound, he should consider buying an auto insurance policy.<br /> <br /> Insurance companies can offer auto insurance with a special policy change titled Named Non-Owner Coverage. This policy provides coverage for specifically named individuals when they use vehicles not ordinarily available to them. A standard policy written for a car owner already has this coverage, but a policy for someone who doesn&rsquo;t own a car must include the special form. The policy covers the driver for: <ul> <li>His liability for injuries or damage to others, </li> <li>Medical payments for relatively minor injuries he suffers while using the car, and </li> <li>Major injuries he suffers in accidents with uninsured or underinsured motorists. </li> </ul> Coverage requirements may vary from one state to another, so it is advisable to check with an insurance agent about the coverage in your state. Should the policyholder buy a vehicle, the policy insures the vehicle for these coverages automatically for 14 days.<br /> <br /> It is important to understand that the liability insurance this policy provides will pay only after the vehicle owner&rsquo;s liability insurance is used up. It also does not insure other family members unless it specifically lists their names. Finally, it does not insure the vehicle for collision or other causes of physical damage. An insurance agent can explain options for insuring these types of losses. Because of these coverage limitations, however, the cost of the policy may be relatively inexpensive.<br /> <br /> Operating a motor vehicle is always risky, whether the driver owns, rents or borrows the car. Car accidents can be financially devastating. All who plan to drive at some point should make sure they have proper and adequate insurance backing them up.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 1.3em;">To check on your own <a href="http://www.genins.com/" style="font-size: 1em;" target="_self">Valparaiso Car Insurance</a>, contact an agent at <strong>General Insurance Services</strong> today!</span>urn:uuid:bbd48884-78bc-4f67-a9df-fb3c70c185da<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000003652050XSmall.jpg' align='left' />If your Sunday plans include throwing a party, you'd better be sure you have adequate insurance in the event of an injury claim by one of your guests. This advice stems from a new study sponsored by Trusted Choice, the independent agent's branding ca...Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:33:45 -0500<img alt="" style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000003652050XSmall.jpg" />If your Sunday plans include throwing a party, you'd better be sure you have adequate insurance in the event of an injury claim by one of your guests. This advice stems from a new study sponsored by Trusted Choice, the independent agent's branding campaign launched by the Alexandria, Virginia-based Independent Insurance Agents &amp; Brokers of America.<br /> <br /> The study was conducted by TRC, an independent research company in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. The researchers polled 1,009 adults in a telephone survey about their plans for a social gathering. Their research revealed that of 28.5 million Americans who plan to have parties in their home, 21 million do not have a personal umbrella insurance policy, making them vulnerable to lawsuits, which could result in financial ruin.The remaining seven million didn't know what coverage they currently carried.<br /> <br /> The importance of proper coverage cannot be underestimated because in 30 states, hosts can be held legally responsible for guests who drink, drive and cause an accident. Interestingly enough, 53 percent of those surveyed said the host should be held responsible; however, most of those who responded in this manner have not taken any steps to protect themselves. The researchers concluded that people don't buy umbrella policies because they think enough coverage is offered by their&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/auto_and_homeowners_insurance/default.aspx" target="_self">homeowner and auto</a> policies. Nothing could be further from the truth. Large jury awards coupled with substantial health care costs make it commonplace for lawsuits to exceed the liability limits on the average homeowner/auto policy.<br /> <br /> The researchers made the following recommendations to prevent holiday party accidents and to protect homeowners from becoming victimized:<br /> <br /> <ul> <li>Discuss your insurance coverage with your agent before hosting a party to familiarize yourself with your state's host liability laws, and to make sure you are properly insured.</li> <li>Limit invited guests to people you know.</li> <li>Host the party at a restaurant or bar that has a liquor license, rather than in a home or office.</li> <li>Be sure that you provide filling food for guests and alternative nonalcoholic beverages.</li> <li>Schedule entertainment or activities that draw partygoers away from drinking.</li> <li>Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who should not drive.</li> <li>Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is scheduled to end.</li> <li>Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.</li> <li>Consider hiring an off-duty police officer to discreetly monitor guests' sobriety or handle any alcohol-related problems as guests leave.</li> </ul> <strong>Check with General Insurance Services today&nbsp;to learn just how much your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/" target="_self">South Bend Home Insurance</a> really covers.</strong>urn:uuid:cf8aadee-7843-4880-b13f-e570ca393b4e<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000001641060Small.jpg' align='left' />Many teens do not take personal responsibility for safe driving and continue to engage in dangerous driving behaviors, this according to a new survey commissioned by Allstate Insurance. The survey also revealed that while the majority of teens polled...Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:36:41 -0500<img alt="" style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000001641060Small.jpg" />Many teens do not take personal responsibility for safe driving and continue to engage in dangerous driving behaviors, this according to a new survey commissioned by Allstate Insurance. The survey also revealed that while the majority of teens polled were making New Year's resolutions about getting better grades, or exercising more, only a small number of them were <strong>resolving to be safer drivers</strong>.<br /> <br /> <strong>Ninety percent of the teens</strong> surveyed said they hoped their friends would be safer on the road in 2008; but only 11 percent answered that "driving more safely" was one of their personal New Year's resolutions. Thirty-four percent of teens surveyed said that they had been frightened as a passenger because the driver was being careless, but did not say anything to the driver.<br /> <br /> <strong>Fifty-seven percent of the respondents</strong> said they had driven more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, 22 percent admitted to having raced another vehicle, and 19 percent reported receiving a traffic ticket. Eighteen percent of the teens surveyed said they had been a passenger in a car being driven by a teen who was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.<br /> <br /> While the teens that were polled were willing to break the law, they were not as agreeable to looking the other way when it came to their friends. Forty-one percent of the respondents wanted their friends to stop engaging in unsafe practices including driving without seatbelts and speeding. More than two-thirds of teens surveyed said they wanted their friends to avoid technology distractions, such as text messaging, talking on a cell phone, and scrolling through an MP3 player, while driving.<br /> <br /> There was an important positive outcome revealed by the Allstate survey; more teenagers are familiar with driver's contracts, which means parents are taking a more active role in promoting driving safety. Approximately 30 percent of teens that have heard of these agreements have signed one. The researchers added that the dialogue opened by discussing the contract can be just as important as the signed agreement itself. However, if the contract is to be truly effective, that dialogue between parent and teen must be ongoing.<br /> <br /> When parents start a dialogue with their teenage drivers, they can influence their child's behavior. The survey indicated that almost half of the teens polled are having 'good conversations' with their parents about the importance of safe driving. But one conversation is not enough. <strong>Such dialogue needs to be frequent and meaningful</strong> if it is to deter teen drivers from engaging in unsafe driving behaviors.<br /> <br /> Make sure your teen is covered with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com" target="_self">South Bend Car Insurance</a> from General Insurance Services today.urn:uuid:ae48675c-9b81-4c14-bd5e-2e9b9b1bbdde<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000006621089XSmall.jpg' align='left' />For a foreign employee temporarily transferred to work in the U.S., getting permission to own and drive a car can be a long and tedious process. Before the non-U.S. citizen can apply and be granted a driver's license, in most states he or she must be...Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:22:35 -0500<img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Car Insurance" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000006621089XSmall.jpg" />For a foreign employee temporarily transferred to work in the U.S., getting permission to own and drive a car can be a long and tedious process. Before the non-U.S. citizen can apply and be granted a driver's license, in most states he or she must be issued a social security card, which usually takes two to eight weeks. Also, most auto insurance companies will only insure a driver with a valid driver's license. Finally, large corporations usually impose their own practices and rules on foreign nationals to protect them against liability in case the non-U.S. employee has an accident.<br /> <br /> An insurance agent or broker that is familiar with the licensing and insurance requirements in each state can often help ease the process of a non-U.S. citizen acquiring a driver's license and insurance coverage. Lately, in an attempt to encourage global trade, many states have arranged driver's license reciprocity agreements with other countries. These agreements usually exempt foreign drivers from having to obtain a driver's license in the state where they are temporarily living. Whether a specific state has reciprocity with another country can be determined by calling the state's department of motor vehicles.<br /> <br /> Once the requirements for a driver's license are met, there are several insurance companies that will provide coverage to foreign visitors. Usually these are "non-standard" divisions within the insurers. Because obtaining a driving record from a foreign country is difficult and time consuming, underwriters regard persons from another country as having no driving record and usually place them in a "high-risk" pool. The policy is the same as for any high-risk driver, with premiums substantially more than those paid by a U.S. driver with an excellent driving record.<br /> <br /> When applying for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/auto_and_homeowners_insurance/default.aspx" target="_self">auto insurance</a> in most states an International Driving Permit will not substitute for a U.S. driver's license. An IDP only provides evidence that the non-U.S. citizen has a valid driver's license in his or her own country. An IDP, however, will enable a foreign national to rent a car.<br /> <br /> Although renting a car may be feasible for a brief stay of several weeks or even a month, the cost of the various insurance coverages, especially the collision damage waiver, offered by rental car companies can be expensive. Charges for such coverage can be $15 to $40 per day depending on the type of vehicle rented. In just a month or two these charges could add up to much more than the cost of a six-month auto insurance policy.<br /> <br /> Get all your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/" target="_self">South&nbsp;Bend Car Insurane</a>&nbsp;questions answered by General Insurance Services today!urn:uuid:c8a3abb3-a16a-49a8-9e42-b9e098499e83<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000014219231Small.jpg' align='left' />Many people invent reasons not to wear their seat belt. Some just don't bother and others think - "nothing will happen to me." The statistics show that this statement is definitely untrue. From 1992 through 2001, roadway crashes were the leading caus...Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:22:16 -0500<img alt="" style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000014219231Small.jpg" />Many people invent reasons not to wear their seat belt. Some just don't bother and others think - "nothing will happen to me." The statistics show that this statement is definitely untrue. From 1992 through 2001, roadway crashes were the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the U.S., accounting for 13,337 civilian worker deaths (22% of all injury-related deaths), an average of 4 deaths each day. Between 1997 and 2002, 28% of fatally injured workers were wearing a seat belt; 56% were unbelted or had no seat belt available. Belt use was unknown for the remaining 16%.<br /> <br /> Seat belts are effective in preventing fatalities, 50% more effective in preventing moderate to critical injuries, and 10% more effective in preventing minor injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration. What is most surprising is that by 1992 over 40 states had enacted seat belt use laws and still only 55% of the people traveling in cars were wearing them.<br /> <br /> In addition to seat belts we are even more fortunate in that cars are now equipped with supplemental restraint systems (SRS), more commonly known as air bags. What is not commonly known is that the air bag will only fully protect the passenger if they are wearing their seat belt. This is another good reason to buckle up. Insist all passengers in your car do the same and make every trip a safe one.<br /> <br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Occupational fatality data</span><br /> *Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 1992-2001 (special research file prepared for NIOSH by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; excludes New York City).<br /> <br /> ?? Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 1997-2002; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (public-use microdata files).<br /> <br /> Take precautions to ensure your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/default.aspx">car insurance rates</a> don't increase. Remember&nbsp;to wear your seatbelt and&nbsp;contact <strong>General Insurance Services about your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/">South Bend Car Insurance</a> today!</strong>urn:uuid:c4fcfca0-67cf-46b0-aecb-d2fd82e31188<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000005005286XSmall.jpg' align='left' />There is little disagreement among policyholders that an&nbsp;insurance policy is an insanely boring piece of literature. Too often we get our policy and until we have a claim, it is filed with barely a second glance. Is there a way to make reading i...Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:55:43 -0500<p><img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Insurance Policy" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000005005286XSmall.jpg" />There is little disagreement among policyholders that an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/get_a_quote/default.aspx" target="_self">insurance policy</a> is an insanely boring piece of literature. Too often we get our policy and until we have a claim, it is filed with barely a second glance. Is there a way to make reading insurance policies more interesting and more productive? Let's try.</p> <p>To make your policy interesting to read, we are going to go on a scavenger hunt. Find a pen, pencil, or highlighter; open up your policy; and let's begin. <strong>We will break down the typical insurance policy</strong> into the following parts: 1.) Declarations, 2.) Definitions, 3.) Covered Perils, 4.) Exclusions, 5.) Conditions, and 6.) Endorsements or Riders. Get used to looking in this particular order, regardless of how your policy is arranged. Because of the nature of insurance policies, you will not overlook anything by going out of the policy's inherent order; so do not worry about jumping from page to page.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Declarations</strong> - The declarations page(s) comprises the who, what, when, and where of your policy. Look for the named insured, the address, limits of coverage, deductible or retention levels, and listings of forms that might apply to your coverage as well. Make sure that all the personalized information is correct and all the forms match the ones quoted with your policy. This should always be your first stop.</li> <li><strong>Definitions</strong> - Not all policies have a definition section, but most have defined terms. Hunt down the definitions in your policy, see what the defined terms mean, and to be truly thorough, find those defined terms as they are used in the policy to see if the definitions make sense.</li> <li><strong>Covered Peril(s)</strong> - Regardless of what type of policy you have purchased, it will always have a specific covered peril or list of covered perils. It may be called "Coverage Agreement," "Covered Perils," or something similar. (NOTE: A typical auto policy has as many as six distinct coverages, each with their own terms, conditions, exclusions, and so on.) Coverage agreements can also include additional coverages related to the covered peril, i.e., legal defense and other expenses paid by the company in a liability policy.</li> <li><strong>Exclusions</strong> - Virtually all policies have exclusions, which are usually found in a section entitled "Exclusions" or "What We Do Not Cover." Common exclusions include exposures that are deemed uninsurable by law or uninsurable by the insurance company. Punitive damages, for example, are not insurable in some states because of the act that precipitated the punitive damages. Other exposures, such as asbestos liability, are simply undesirable to the insurer and excluded accordingly. Often, policies have "carve outs" built into the covered peril section or elsewhere in the policy, so look for these exclusions too. For example, the policy might have a definition section with a definition for "Damages" or "Covered Damages." Damages might be stated to include monetary loss suffered by a third party (for a liability policy) and defense costs, but not to include fines, penalties, or punitive damages assessed against the insured.</li> <li><strong>General Conditions</strong> - All policies have what are called general conditions or common policy conditions if there is more than one coverage section to the policy. Typical conditions that apply are "Policy Territory," "Cancellation," and "Other Insurance" clauses.</li> <li><strong>Endorsements or Riders</strong> - Many policies have endorsements or riders added to the basic policy to account for variations by state, updates to the basic form, or elements that are peculiar to your situation and require tailoring of coverage.</li> </ol> <p>Now that you have gone through your policy, the final step is to ask questions. If there are no questions, move on to the next policy, start with the declarations and don't stop until you hit the riders. I guarantee it will be a page-turner!</p> <p><strong><em>Contact&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/contact.aspx" target="_self">General Insurance Services</a> today to make sure you understand your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=COMMERCIAL" target="_self">Valparaiso Business Insurance</a> policy!</em></strong></p>urn:uuid:73a1cd18-9b71-4c0e-aca5-e84af187ccaf<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000000298091Small.jpg' align='left' />All businesses utilize risk management techniques in some format to reduce liability exposure. No matter how hard you try, however, you can never fully account for the actions of others. On any given day, your business could be found on the wrong end...Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:29:49 -0500<img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; height: 198px; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Business Insurance" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000000298091Small.jpg" />All businesses <strong>utilize risk management techniques</strong> in some format to reduce liability exposure. No matter how hard you try, however, you can never fully account for the actions of others. On any given day, your business could be found on the wrong end of a lawsuit for injuries or damages caused to a third party as a result of your operations.&nbsp;<a href="/business/general_liability_quote.aspx" target="_self">Commercial General Liability insurance</a> is your first line of defense in these situations.<br /> <br /> Take for example broadcast production employees who ignore safety standards when operating electrical equipment. They are remiss even though they have been thoroughly trained in accepted procedures. The negligent handling of broadcast equipment can not only result in bodily harm to the employee, but injuries or even death to unaffiliated third parties.<br /> <br /> As a manufacturer, you are potentially liable for every product you ship. While quality control may be stressed throughout your organization, the fact remains that no person or machine is perfect. Harm caused to a third party from a faulty product could lead to a lengthy courtroom battle.<br /> <br /> Visitors to a long-term care facility can also be the victims of unforeseen events. A floor mat with torn and uplifted edges or an extension cord placed across a heavily trafficked area can certainly be the starting point for an accident.<br /> <br /> That's why, in spite of your best efforts at removing all the obvious potential hazards from your business, you might still find yourself being sued. <a href="/business/general_liability_quote.aspx" target="_self"><span style="color: #400080;">Commercial General Liability insurance</span></a> is your best defense against devastating claims that could destroy your business.<br /> <br /> <a href="/business/general_liability_quote.aspx" target="_self">Commercial General Liability insurance</a> is designed to protect business owners from a variety of exposures. It can cover liability arising from accidents on or off premises, to products sold by the insured that result in injury to the user, to contractual liability, leaving an owner free to concentrate on managing their business.<br /> <br /> Just as important, <a href="/business/general_liability_quote.aspx" target="_self">Commercial General Liability insurance</a> protects owners even if their company isn't legally liable for a claim. Legal defense costs are continually rising; and the expense to defend oneself against a claim whether justified or not can be financially devastating to a business. The fact that <a href="/business/general_liability_quote.aspx" target="_self">Commercial General Liability insurance</a> pays for expenses such as attorney's fees, witness fees, and police reports is an important coverage feature. Another significant consideration is that coverage goes beyond the basic expenses of a legal defense to cover any reasonable expenses the business owner may incur at the insurance company's request to assist in the planning of their defense. Finally, the liability policy will also fund the premium for any bond the court requires, ensuring that the judgment will be paid if the business owner is found legally liable for an injury or property damage.<br /> <br /> <strong>Make sure you're covered with&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=COMMERCIAL" target="_self"><strong>Valparaiso Business Insurance</strong></a><strong> from General Insurance today!</strong>urn:uuid:4e33ad1b-9727-4505-a0b4-786415d7713c<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/Valpo.jpg' align='left' />Valparaiso is a city in Porter County, Indiana, United States, and is the southeastern-most suburb of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the county seat of Porter County. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city ...Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:42:42 -0500<img src="http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/Valpo.jpg" style="width: 250px; float: left; height: 155px; margin-right: 6px;" alt="Valparaiso Office" />Valparaiso is a city in Porter County, Indiana, United States, and is the southeastern-most suburb of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the county seat of Porter County. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.<br /> <br /> At General Insurance Services, we strive to be your source for all forms of insurance and risk management.&nbsp; We have been helping businesses and individuals for over 70 years. We serve Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan&nbsp;and many accounts in the greater Chicago market. We represent many of the country's best insurance carriers for commercial, individual, employee benefits, and personal insurance products. Our staff consists of over 50 fine insurance&nbsp;professionals, many&nbsp; with advanced degrees and insurance designations.<br /> <br /> We are committed to the highest standards of service, integrity and responsiveness. This commitment has contributed to our steady growth over the years. It has also enabled our clients to grow, and be secure in knowing they have solid reliable insurance products and advice that will stand the test of time. <br /> <br /> Call us today <strong>Toll Free 888-844-8376</strong> for a FREE <a href="/contact.aspx">Valparaiso Car, Home or Business Insurance Quote</a>.urn:uuid:8ab2cd3e-58a5-4e63-bd2f-0dccd966030aGeneral Insurance Services and Accident Fund would like to put the WorkSafe People to work for you. Please contact Ted Taylor at 219-879-4581 or tjtaylor@genins.com at General Insurance Services to learn more. Watch a video to learn more.Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:19:29 -0500General Insurance Services and Accident Fund would like to put the WorkSafe People to work for you. Please contact Ted Taylor at 219-879-4581 or <a href="mailto:tjtaylor@genins.com">tjtaylor@genins.com</a> at General Insurance Services to learn more. <a href="http://www.accidentfund.com/video/gis/" target="_blank" title="Workers comp video">Watch</a> a video to learn more.urn:uuid:b3d69e19-fd34-4cbd-8311-9560ce6b29db<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000008757735XSmall.jpg' align='left' /> Preexisting Condition Exclusions in Group Health Policies Group health insurance policies often offer an affordable insurance solution for individuals who are expensive to insure by individual insurance standards. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean that e...Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:57:04 -0600<p><strong><img alt="" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000008757735XSmall.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Preexisting Condition Exclusions </strong><strong>in Group Health Policies</strong></p> <p>Group health insurance policies often offer an affordable insurance solution for individuals who are expensive to insure by individual insurance standards. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean that everyone&rsquo;s preexisting conditions will automatically be covered by a group policy.</p> <p><strong>What is a preexisting condition?</strong></p> <p>A preexisting condition is any medical condition that you received treatment for before you were covered under the group plan. Generally, these are chronic health conditions, but can also include issues that stem from a one-time injury. For instance, if you hurt your back and were treated for it 3-months before joining a new group plan, then any future back-related problem that could have been caused by that initial injury could be considered a preexisting condition. </p> <p>Because group health insurance policies are not individually underwritten, your individual health concerns are not considered to determine whether or not you are approved. Instead, new members are approved regardless of their health history but with coverage that may or may not extend to their preexisting conditions. </p> <p><strong>Avoiding Preexisting Condition Exclusions</strong></p> <p>In order to avoid getting caught in the preexisting condition conundrum you must have been covered by insurance for at least 3-12 months continuously prior to becoming part of the group insurance plan. In addition, you must have had no break in coverage longer than 63 days during that time. The amount of time you must have been covered before joining a group plan will vary depending on state. Another group policy, an individual policy and COBRA would all count as coverage.</p> <p>If you do not meet these requirements then your preexisting condition will generally be excluded from coverage in the group plan for up to 12 months. This means that any claim your physician or a treatment center attempts to pass through to your insurance company for treatment of that condition will be declined and you must pay for it out of pocket.</p> <p>If your health insurance plan has a deductible, the out-of-pocket amount that you pay for excluded preexisting conditions will not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.</p> <p>The best way to avoid having your preexisting conditions excluded the next time you join a group health insurance plan is to make sure you always remain covered by an insurance policy. Whether you choose COBRA coverage as you are between jobs or an individual policy, the important thing is simply to remain covered.<br /> <br /> Learn more about <a href="http://www.genins.com/health/default.aspx">medical insurance</a>&nbsp;including fee-for-service and managed care. <a href="http://www.genins.com/contact.aspx">Contact&nbsp;us</a> to get a free medical insurance quote at (219) 879-4581.</p> <div id="radePasteHelper" style="border:0px solid red;position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> <table width="60%" border="0" cellpadding="5" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="right" class="phoneTextCell" style="font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">(219) 879-4581</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></div> <div id="radePasteHelper" style="border:0px solid red;position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> <table width="60%" border="0" cellpadding="5" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="right" class="phoneTextCell" style="font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">(219) 879-4581</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></div>urn:uuid:76617119-24cd-4b2f-b525-5ed681b523ff<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000004049945Small.jpg' align='left' />You probably know that insurance companies are good about reimbursing you when you have suffered a loss that falls within the parameters of your home insurance policy. But how much do you know about the mechanics of that reimbursement? What you might...Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:16:58 -0600<p><img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Homeowners Insurance" src="http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000004049945Small.jpg" />You probably know that insurance companies are good about reimbursing you when you have suffered a loss that falls within the parameters of your home insurance policy. But how much do you know about the mechanics of that reimbursement? What you might not realize is that your policy may entitle you to one of two different methods of calculating your insurance benefit. These methods include calculating for either replacement costs or actual cash value reimbursement, and there is a very big difference between the two.</p> <p><strong>Actual Cash Value </strong></p> <p>Actual cash value refers to the value of your property, generally acknowledged as fair market value. Fair market value is understood to be the amount that a fully knowledgeable buyer would pay for your property if he or she was given a reasonable period of time to decide to do so. It takes into consideration any depreciation within your home, changes in property value, and upgrades you might have made to improve its value.</p> <p>Receiving the actual cash value for your home (assuming your home insurance policy limits permit that) is great for making you financially whole again and keeping your net worth in stasis, but it might not give you enough to rebuild your home on the existing property because your actual cash value might not be equal to the costs of rebuilding. This means you would either need to buy a new home or pay for some of the rebuilding expenses out of your own pocket. </p> <p><strong>Replacement Costs</strong></p> <p>Being paid replacement costs within your home insurance policy instead of actual cash values mean that you will be paid the cost to rebuild your home after a total loss, rather than being limited to receive only its actual cash value. In most cases, replacement costs can be paid when you&rsquo;ve insured your dwelling for at least 80 percent of the full replacement cost of the property. This ensures that you and your family can replace your home by rebuilding on the same property, and not hurt your standard of living. Replacement costs may exceed actual cash value, but always remember that the benefit you receive will not exceed those in your policy&rsquo;s limits. </p> <p>If you already have a <a href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=HOMEOWN">home insurance policy</a> and just aren&rsquo;t sure which reimbursement type you are entitled to, read your policy over. You can also <a href="http://www.genins.com/contact.aspx">call your agent or insurance company</a> to find out for certain. If you are still <a href="http://www.genins.com/homeowners/insurance_quote.aspx">shopping for home insurance</a>, ask your agent about which benefit calculation method he or she would suggest. <br /> <br /> Contact us today at any of our three <a href="http://www.genins.com/locations.aspx">locations </a>for a free <a href="http://www.genins.com/">La Porte home insurance quote</a> or Michigan City or Valparaiso in Indiana.&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:8c4ef218-c776-4b0b-9a2b-28b15e83ce28<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000003571825XSmall.jpg' align='left' />Many people wonder if their homeowners insurance would pay for an injury that they got while at home. After all, guests and visitors aren&rsquo;t the only people who can get hurt in your home. The same dangers that lie in wait for non-residents of yo...Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:55:00 -0600<p><img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Homeowners Insurance" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000003571825XSmall.jpg" />Many people wonder if their <strong>homeowners insurance</strong> would pay for an injury that they got while at home. After all, guests and visitors aren&rsquo;t the only people who can get hurt in your home. The same dangers that lie in wait for non-residents of your home to stumble upon are waiting for you and your family members as well. There is an important difference, though, between what insurance foots the bill when <i>you </i>get hurt at home and when a <i>visitor</i> gets hurt in your home. </p> <p><b>Understanding Liability</b></p> <p>As a homeowner, you are liable for many of the injuries a visitor can have in your home. In the event that an invited guest or unexpected visitor should be injured in your home through no fault of their own, your homeowners insurance would likely pay medical expenses and damages. It might even pay for lost wages if the injury resulted in the individual being out of work. </p> <p>When it comes to injuries, your homeowners insurance only covers your liability as a property owner, though. So if you or one of your family members were to be injured in your home, it&rsquo;s not your homeowners insurance but your medical insurance that would be responsible for paying for those injuries. </p> <p><b>When Homeowners Insurance Doesn&rsquo;t Pay</b></p> <p>But what injuries of visitors would your homeowners insurance not pay for? Well, if someone was in your home acting in an irresponsible or negligent manner and you had no way to prevent them from having an accident, and their behavior causes the accident, then you would probably not be liable for that injury. However, if someone acting in a normal capacity is injured in your home&mdash;even from something that was not the result of any negligence on your part, you would likely be responsible. </p> <p>Whether you do it to avoid insurance claims or to keep your family and friends safe, creating a home that is free of obvious threats to health and safety will save you both money and heartache. And while you can never create a totally risk-free zone, diligence and close observation can work together to help you remove the most obvious threats and cut down in the opportunity for injury that much more. </p>urn:uuid:1529603e-82a2-434f-9363-5a7c82c1022d<img src='../img/%7Ewww.genins.com/GIS_award_small.jpg' align='left' /> Chamber President Michael Seitz (right) presents Dan Kaminski of General Insurance Services with the 2010 Salute to Business Corporate Citizen of the Year Award. General Insurance S...Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:55:29 -0600<table align="left" style="width: 300px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 300px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" src="../img/%7Ewww.genins.com/GIS_award_small.jpg" /><br /> <span style="font-size: 10px;">Chamber President Michael Seitz (right) presents Dan Kaminski of General Insurance Services with the 2010 Salute to Business Corporate Citizen of the Year Award.</span> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.genins.com/">General Insurance Services</a> was awarded the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award for its community involvement at the Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce Salute to Business Luncheon on Nov. 17, 2010.<br /> <br /> Past and present community participation of GIS agents as board of director members and presidents includes: LaPorte and Michigan City YMCA, LaPorte County Symphony, LaPorte Jaycees, LaPorte Hospital and Foundation Board of Directors, Junior Achievement, Youth Service Bureau School Buddies &nbsp;and Board of Directors, LaPorte Rotary Club, LaPorte Economic Advancement Foundation, LaPorte County Public Library, LaPorte Human Rights Commission, LaPorte County United Way, LaPorte Kiwanis Club, the Samaritan Counseling Center, and many others.<br /> <br /> This level of involvement demonstrates an admirable commitment to the community,&rdquo; said chamber President Michael Seitz. <br /> <br /> The chamber also awarded eight area businesses with the Gold Salute to Business Award: American Licorice Company, Center for Hospice Care, LaPorte County Council on Aging, LaPorte Savings Bank, Rumely Historic Apartments, Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, U.S. Weston Industries Inc., and American&nbsp;Signature. <br /> <br /> Source: <a href="http://www.whatsnewlaporte.com/2010/11/22/gis-receives-laporte-corporate-citizen-award/">WhatsNewLaPorte.com</a></span>urn:uuid:8e8bcc94-d1ea-44b3-98d2-8a024d869227<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000004739604XSmall.jpg' align='left' />By now, even if you live in a state without seat belt laws, you know that buckling up can save your life. But buckling up is not the only way you can proactively act to keep you and your family safe in your automobile. Properly arm your ai...Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:30:55 -0600<img src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000004739604XSmall.jpg" alt="Auto Insurance" style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; height: 199px; margin-right: 10px;" />By now, even if you live in a state without seat belt laws, you know that <strong>buckling up can save your life</strong>. But buckling up is not the only way you can proactively act to keep you and your family safe in your automobile.<br /> <br /> <ol> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Properly arm your airbags:</strong> If your car has air bags, make sure they are properly armed. If they have activated, you&rsquo;ll need to have them armed again. </p> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Use your seat belt properly:</strong> There is a reason why seat belts stretch across our chests and not just our laps. These chest straps keep us from hitting the dashboard, the seat in front of us, or getting an extreme case of whiplash. Make sure to wear your seatbelt as it was intended so you can get a full range of protection.&nbsp; </p> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Practice proper and timely vehicle maintenance:</strong> Transmission problems can cause your car to seize up in the middle of the road; improperly filled tires can compromise your brake system&mdash;there&rsquo;s no end to the potential accidents that car maintenance issues can cause. Bring your car to the mechanic regularly so he or she can check for these issues before they help cause an accident. </p> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Practice airbag safety:</strong> Airbags have saved a lot of lives, but they can also be harmful in certain situations. Children under age twelve should never sit in a front seat with driver&rsquo;s side airbags. If they must, they should be properly buckled up with the seat as far away from the dashboard as possible, since airbags can actually harm anyone who is 2-3 inches from the point of inflation. Because the driver&rsquo;s airbag is in the steering wheel, he or she can be injured, too. Measure your normal seating position when you drive and make sure that you are situated at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel.</p> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Use rear facing car seats:</strong> Airbags are not the only in-car threat to a child&rsquo;s safety. Children less than one year old or who weigh less than 20 lbs. should always be buckled into rear-facing child&rsquo;s seats in the back seat of the car. Children under 4&rsquo;9&rdquo; should also use booster seats when riding in the car. This prevents seat belt injuries in case of an accident. </p> </li> <li> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><strong>Adjust your mirrors:</strong> It&rsquo;s easy to get into your car after another driver has used it and forget to adjust your mirrors. This can lead to blind spots that allow you to back into an obstacle or change lanes without seeing a nearby driver. Always be sure that your mirrors are properly adjusted and that you check your mirror&rsquo;s blind spots before making any moves in traffic.</p> </li> </ol> Observing these simple auto safety precautions will give you peace of mind and <strong>might one day even save a life</strong>.urn:uuid:510696e2-3449-4ac5-8bd5-9be97fe5824cRead through our most recent blog postings from around the web: The new&nbsp;'Move Over' Law in Indiana How smartphones are increasing the chances of a car accident Drivers be aware&nbsp;of these tips for deer season Employers may...Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:49:51 -0500<h2>Read through our most recent blog postings from around the web:</h2> <ul> <li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">The new&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/blog/Changes_in_Indiana_Traffic_The_Move_Over_Law.aspx" title="Car Insurance" target="_self">'Move Over'</a> Law in Indiana </li> <li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">How smartphones are <a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&amp;friendId=529456976&amp;blogId=540246753" title="Car Insurance" target="_blank">increasing the chances of a car accident</a> </li> <li style="padding-bottom: 5px;"><a href="http://geninsservices.blogspot.com/2010/10/look-out-drivers-urged-to-be-aware-as.html" title="Car Insurance" target="_blank">Drivers be aware</a>&nbsp;of these tips for deer season </li> <li style="padding-bottom: 5px;">Employers may stop coverage with new <a href="http://geninsservices.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/employers-health-insurance.html" title="Health Insurance" target="_blank">Health Care Reform</a> </li> <li>Indian faces reckoning over&nbsp;<a href="http://geninsservices.livejournal.com/1947.html" title="Unemployment Insurance" target="_blank">unemployment insurance</a> fund </li> </ul> <p>Be sure to check back with us for more updates soon!</p>urn:uuid:b0dd4779-21b2-4a5b-95ad-48f7d47eb8e1<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000005386677XSmall.jpg' align='left' />Whenever roadways bring unexpected scenes, like stopped vehicles blocking lanes or resting on the shoulder, construction workers and accidents, the potential for further accident or injury goes up as drivers become distracted by the events around the...Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:31:47 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Whenever roadways bring unexpected scenes, like stopped vehicles blocking lanes or resting on the shoulder, construction workers and accidents, the potential for further accident or injury goes up as drivers become distracted by the events around them and rescue workers and others are left exposed walking around the roadway. Taking precautions to ensure that all drivers act appropriately and safely in the face of these events helps to ensure that additional accidents and injuries are avoided. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">According to<strong> Indiana&rsquo;s Move Over law</strong>, motorists are <strong>required to &ldquo;move over&rdquo;</strong> to an adjacent lane if they encounter any of the following vehicles stopped in the lane next to them with emergency lights on:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, fire and rescue trucks.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Wreckers.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Highway maintenance and work vehicles.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tow trucks.</li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><img style="width: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; height: 200px; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Move Over Law" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000005386677XSmall.jpg" />In the event that a driver could not move safely over to another lane upon seeing one of these vehicles stopped with lights&mdash;either because there wasn&rsquo;t another lane to move to or because traffic conditions prevented them from doing so&mdash;the Move Over law then required the driver to <strong>drive past the stopped vehicle slowly</strong> until they had cleared the area. Unfortunately, further safety measures have been needed and, as a result, Indiana drivers are now required to officially slow down and<strong> drive 10 miles per hour under the speed limit</strong> if they are unable to move their car over to another lane. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In addition to this change to the Move Over law, the state has created another law called <strong>the &ldquo;Move It&rdquo; law</strong>. This law (which is currently in effect) requires that individuals involved in accidents <strong>move their vehicles out of the travel lanes</strong> of the street or highway after the accident, if at all possible. If the car is inoperable, then this directive can be ignored. </p> You can never be too safe when it comes to driving, the fact that these laws help ensure your safety should be enough to encourage all motorists to follow them. Of course, there are penalties that are imposed for drivers that do not. <strong>Fines of up to $10,000 can be imposed</strong> on drivers who do not acknowledge the Move Over or Move It laws. If the violation of the law results in injuries or property damage, the penalties are even more severe and can include license suspension.<br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.genins.com/contact.aspx" title="Contact Us"><strong>Contact us</strong></a>&nbsp;with any questions you may have about the new changes to this law</strong><strong>.</strong>urn:uuid:5a1c832a-46d3-415e-bc49-2c7d59815a79Look through our recent blog postings from around the web: Insuring Your College-Bound Driver Rear-ended by the &ldquo;crash tax&rdquo; Indiana Insurance Commissioner Cutter Dies 6 Top Car Insurance Myths Health care reform: Fact and propaganda Be...Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:22:36 -0500Look through our recent blog postings from around the web:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.genins.com/blog/Insuring_Your_College-Bound_Driver.aspx" id="BlogEntries_ctl00_ctl04_lnk_main_title" title="Car Insurance" target="_self">Insuring Your College-Bound Driver </a><br /> <a href="http://geninsservices.blogspot.com/2010/10/rear-ended-by-crash-tax.html" title="Car Insurance" target="_blank">Rear-ended by the &ldquo;crash tax&rdquo;</a><br /> <a href="http://geninsservices.typepad.com/blog/2010/09/indiana-insurance-commissioner.html" title="Indiana Insurance" target="_blank">Indiana Insurance Commissioner Cutter Dies</a><br /> <a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&amp;friendId=529456976&amp;blogId=539584128" title="Car Insurance" target="_blank">6 Top Car Insurance Myths</a><br /> <a href="http://geninsservices.livejournal.com/1671.html" title="Health Insurance" target="_blank">Health care reform: Fact and propaganda</a><br /> <br /> Be sure to check back for more updates soon!urn:uuid:f0f0fd39-fa98-4d56-b6d3-082022a5c7db<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000009256999XSmall.jpg' align='left' />When your child goes away to college, there are a lot of changes you&rsquo;ll be facing. Some of these changes are good&mdash;like the fact that your refrigerator will stay stocked longer and the amount of laundry you do will be greatly reduced. But ...Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:18:38 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When your child goes away to college, there are a lot of changes you&rsquo;ll be facing. Some of these changes are good&mdash;like the fact that your refrigerator will stay stocked longer and the amount of laundry you do will be greatly reduced. But some of the changes are scary and <strong>may require some preparation</strong> on your end. Among these changes is the need to either newly<strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/add_driver.aspx" title="insure your child">insure your child</a></strong> or <strong>change their insurance information</strong> to their new residency information. Each of these options comes with their own set of responsibilities, but don&rsquo;t get too overwhelmed, they&rsquo;re actually pretty <strong>easy to handle</strong>. Here are five easy steps to get your child and their car insurance ready for their college years.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-top: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b><img alt="" style="width: 250px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; height: 166px; margin-left: 10px;" src="/img/~www.genins.com/iStock_000009256999XSmall.jpg" />Have heart to heart talk with student:</b> During the talk, determine what financial responsibility he or she will have for accidents and other incidents that occur while he or she is away at school. Stress the importance of continuing to practice safe driving activities and to limit distractions such as cell phones, other passengers and MP3 players. If you are paying any portion of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/quick_insurance_quote.aspx" title="Auto Insurance Quote">auto insurance premium</a> or car payment, make sure the student understands that you will no longer do so if they do not honor and respect their responsibilities as a safe driver. </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>&nbsp;Learn who is held responsible:</b> If your child makes an error in judgment while driving, there is no doubt that a resulting accident is their fault. But even though they are over the age of 18, some states will hold you liable for their actions because, as students, they are still considered dependents. <strong>Find out your state&rsquo;s regulations</strong> and make sure to explain them to your son or daughter.&nbsp; </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Decide whether to include the driver on your policy:</b> If you haven&rsquo;t already, you might want to consider&nbsp;<a href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/add_driver.aspx" title="Add Driver to Policy">adding the student to your policy</a> instead of having them buy their own.&nbsp; In many states, however, even though the child is over the age of 18, they are still your dependent when a full-time student and you still may be financially responsible for them.&nbsp; Therefore, it would be a wise idea to keep your college-bound child on your policy.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Notify insurance company that vehicle is stored at different location:</b> If you already have coverage for the car your college-bound son or daughter will be driving, make sure the insurance company understands that the vehicle will be at a new location since that may affect the premium.&nbsp; </li> </ol> <p><b>Consider the new risks and update coverage accordingly:</b> If your son or daughter will be living in a college town they may be exposed to more risk as they are surrounded by inexperienced drivers and many distractions. Consider lowering deductibles and raising limits in order to compensate for this.<br /> <br /> <strong>Contact us with any questions you may have about your own <a href="http://www.genins.com" style="color: black;" title="Car Insurance Laporte">Car Insurance Laporte</a></strong></p>urn:uuid:39e330a0-1b73-4e18-8335-ac7a5c596b5a<img src='http://www.genins.com/img/%7Ewww.genins.com/iStock_000004484991XSmall.jpg' align='left' /> We all buy car insurance with a silent plea on our lips as we pay for our premiums&mdash;Please don&rsquo;t ever let me actually need the benefits this policy offers. Unfortunately, a small percentage of the population does have to use their auto i...Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:42:04 -0500<p><img alt="" style="width: 300px; float: left; height: 196px; margin: 10px;" src="/img/%7Ewww.genins.com/iStock_000004484991XSmall.jpg" /></p> <p>We all buy <a title="Car Insurance" href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=AUTO">car insurance</a> with a silent plea on our lips as we pay for our premiums&mdash;<em>Please don&rsquo;t ever let me actually need the benefits this policy offers. </em></p> <p>Unfortunately, a small percentage of the population does have to use their auto insurance policy and place <a title="auto insurance claims" href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/accident_claim.aspx">auto insurance claims</a>. </p> <p>If you need to place an auto insurance claim, there are some things you can do to make this process easier and more efficient for you.</p> <p> </p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in; list-style-type: decimal;" start="1"> <li><strong>Call your agent.</strong> <a title="Insurance agents" href="http://www.genins.com/employees.aspx">Insurance agents</a> are there to make this process easier for you. One phone call to your agent and you can take yourself out of the picture for much of the paperwork and claims coordination. Your agent will ask you about the accident (some may even visit the scene) or incident surrounding the claim and file paperwork for you. Not only is this less time consuming for you but it&rsquo;s a great way to make sure the paperwork is done correctly.</li> <li><strong>Call your insurance company.</strong> If your agent is unavailable you can call the toll free claims line of your <a title="insurance company" href="http://www.genins.com/links.aspx">insurance company</a>. A company representative will be on the line to help guide you through the process. If you want updates and further requirements to be communicated to you through your agent, be sure to let the insurance company know so they can put this information in their system. </li> <li><strong>Have all information handy.</strong> Before you make your claim with the insurance company or your agent, make sure you have all the <a title="Customer Service Forms" href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=CSR">pertinent information</a> with you. You should have your policy number, the insurance and contact information of any other person involved in the claim, the details of the event that caused the claim, police reports and pictures. If you were not there when the claim happened, make sure you have all the information about how you found the car and the damage.</li> <li><strong>Make a copy.</strong> Make a copy of the claim paperwork and all supporting documents before you submit them to the insurance company. </li> </ol> <p>If you have any doubt that you will not be able to remember important details pertinent to the claim, make sure that you write them down as soon as possible after the incident. You can hold on to this paper in the event that future questions arise that you don&rsquo;t remember the answers to or you can include the statement in your claim. </p> <p>Call us today to get a free Laporte car insurance quote at (219) 362-2113 or fill out an <a title="Quick quote" href="http://www.genins.com/automobile/quick_insurance_quote.aspx">online insurance quote form</a>. </p> <p></p>urn:uuid:8859a61a-4f90-4ded-be39-d59b271b1857Why Wedding Insurance? Ever had a sleepless night, worrying about what could go wrong? Unfortunately, some of what you've imagined can happen. A bride's most common "nightmare" is usually dress-related&hellip;it's damaged or defective, or the brida...Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:18:00 -0500<p><span style="font-size: 18px;">Why Wedding Insurance?</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Ever had a sleepless night, worrying about what could go wrong?</span></p> <div id="mainl"> <p>Unfortunately, some of what you've imagined can happen. A bride's most common "nightmare" is usually dress-related&hellip;it's damaged or defective, or the bridal salon goes out of business. Severe weather can wash out your big day. These are just some of the risks for one of the biggest investments you'll ever make (the average U.S. wedding is $27,000*). You'd protect your car, why not your wedding?</p> <p>Contact us today for more information.</p> </div>urn:uuid:035e7268-5671-4c8f-b4f9-b7724a5e3f1eNEW YOUTHFUL DRIVER GUIDELINES:&nbsp; Youthful drivers must comply with the new Indiana graduated license guidelines effective July 1, 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click here to see a copy of Senate Enrolled Act 16.&nbsp; It explains what the new guidelines are ...Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:26:54 -0500NEW YOUTHFUL DRIVER GUIDELINES:&nbsp; Youthful drivers must comply with the new Indiana graduated license guidelines effective July 1, 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="/DocumentLibrary.aspx?ID=5079">Click here</a> to see a copy of Senate Enrolled Act 16.&nbsp; It explains what the new guidelines are and how they will work.&nbsp; Please review and give your agent a call if you have any questions.&nbsp;urn:uuid:5a001cbf-8a60-49d9-978a-d3dfd9403990Residents begin cleanup efforts and damage assessments. By LAUREEN FAGAN SBT24/7 News National Weather Service teams completing their survey of storm damage Sunday afternoon said tornadoes were confirmed in Berrien County, Cass and St. Joseph counti...Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:14:56 -0500Residents begin cleanup efforts and damage assessments.<br /> <strong>By LAUREEN FAGAN</strong> <em>SBT24/7 News</em><br /> <br /> National Weather Service teams completing their survey of storm damage Sunday afternoon said tornadoes were confirmed in Berrien County, Cass and St. Joseph counties after storms struck the area late Saturday night and early Sunday.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, residents and business owners across the region were awaiting more details as the cleanup continued Sunday.<br /> <br /> Get <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100607/News01/100609579/1130" target="_blank">specifics</a> on the tornado path.<br /> <br /> There were no immediate reports of serious injuries in the Michiana area.<br /> <br /> The Baroda-Stevensville area was among those hardest hit, while widespread reports of damage included a barn destroyed and debris across the road along Michigan 62 between Dowagiac and Cassopolis.<br /> <br /> Near Berrien Springs, a resident said a landmark barn on Scottdale Road near Linco Road is gone. The area near Linco saw winds that snapped trees like toothpicks and tossed debris across yards, fields and roads.<br /> <br /> Buildings were battered, vehicles overturned, and power lines snapped in high winds that were accompanied by torrential rains and frequent lightning.<br /> <br /> Several thousand customers across the Michiana area were without power at the height of the storm, but nearly all had been restored by 4 p.m. Sunday.<br /> <br /> About 440 Indiana-Michigan Power customers were still without electrical service in St. Joseph County, Mich.<br /> <br /> According to Jim Barnes of the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department, the storm took down two cell phone towers at about 12:50 a.m.<br /> <br /> They were knocked across the Grand Elk Railroad tracks, bringing rail traffic to a halt. And utilitycrews continued to work on the power lines the storm brought down in that area, near Dickinson Road and U.S. 131.<br /> <br /> French said damage near White Pigeon was startling.<br /> <br /> There were reports of overturned vehicles on U.S. 12 &mdash; and uprooted trees marked the landscape near an automotive business in the 67400 block of U.S. 131.<br /> <br /> Berrien County officials are asking residents with damage to contact a Trend Center they're establishing.<br /> <br /> The Emergency Management Office is asking any resident, home or business owner who sustained damage to call (800) 815-5485. Operators will take calls from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the department said in a release.<br /> <br /> The trend report is not a request for aid, but will facilitate damage assessment. Berrien County also asks residents and businesses to:<br /> <br /> <ul> <li> Keep careful records of repairs made due to the recent storm.<br /> <br /> </li> <li> Keep a list of items that have been damaged or destroyed.<br /> <br /> </li> <li> If you have insurance, call your insurance agent to report your claim.<br /> <br /> </li> <li> Dispose of damaged property that presents a health hazard or that may hamper clean-up operations.</li> </ul> Be sure to document fully all discarded items if a damage inspector contacts you. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100607/News01/100609579/1130" target="_blank"> Full Story</a>urn:uuid:177a7d3c-db65-4fbb-8ceb-1cb062a88a47When you purchase auto insurance, most insurance companies will only insure the car for Actual Cash Value.&nbsp; Actual Cash Value is determined by subtracting depreciation from what the car cost new.&nbsp; In many cases, a person may owe more money ...Thu, 27 May 2010 11:15:56 -0500<p>When you purchase <a href="http://www.genins.com/category.aspx?id=AUTO">auto insurance</a>, most insurance companies will only insure the car for Actual Cash Value.&nbsp; Actual Cash Value is determined by subtracting depreciation from what the car cost new.&nbsp; In many cases, a person may owe more money on their car then what the Actual Cash Value is, especially considering autos depreciate in value so quickly.&nbsp; Therefore, if the auto owner totals their car, they end up owing the bank money on a car they can no longer drive.</p> <p>GAP Insurance was designed to cover the balance due to the bank after the auto insurance policy pays.&nbsp; In many cases, the auto dealer will try to sell you GAP insurance and include it on your car note.&nbsp; This is convenient, but you will find it can be quite costly, plus you end up paying interest on the GAP insurance.&nbsp; I recommend that you call your insurance agent as in most cases, your insurance agent can offer GAP coverage for a much better price and you won&rsquo;t have to pay interest on the premiums.</p>urn:uuid:003bf92b-c7fb-41f4-b467-768f2fd5fab9There are many ways to network with us, join one or all of them! Yahoo Live Space Facebook Twitter MySpace Blogger Typepad Wordpress Yelp Delicious About Us Wiki Live Journal MyBlogLog Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:50:28 -0500There are many ways to network with us, join one or all of them!<br /> <ul> <li><a href="http://profiles.yahoo.com/geninsservices" target="_blank" class="ApplyClass">Yahoo</a></li> <li><a href="http://generalinsuranceservices.spaces.live.com/" target="_blank">Live Space</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-City-IN/General-Insurance-Services/114514391895367" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://twitter.com/GenInsServices" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/generalinsuranceservices" target="_blank">MySpace</a></li> <li><a href="http://geninsservices.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogger</a></li> <li><a href="http://geninsservices.typepad.com/blog/" target="_blank">Typepad</a></li> <li><a href="http://generalinsuranceservices.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a></li> <li><a href="http://geninsservices.yelp.com/" target="_blank">Yelp</a></li> <li><a href="http://delicious.com/geninsservices" target="_blank">Delicious</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.aboutus.org/Genins.com" target="_blank">About Us Wiki</a></li> <li><a href="http://geninsservices.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">Live Journal</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/members/GenInsServices/" target="_blank">MyBlogLog</a> </li> </ul> urn:uuid:84dba37a-4b6b-4bf0-ba3b-7225ff85bb03 There are so many things to do and consider when deciding whether or not to go into business for yourself.&nbsp; One very important item to consider is the potential you have to be sued because of your actions or inactions as a business owner.&nbsp;...Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:45:38 -0500<p></p> <p>There are so many things to do and consider when deciding whether or not to go into business for yourself.&nbsp; One very important item to consider is the potential you have to be sued because of your actions or inactions as a business owner.&nbsp; We have listed some common potential liability exposures business owners face:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Premises Liability</strong> – the potential for visitors to be injured or harmed while at a business location.</li> <li><strong>Operations Liability</strong> – the potential for injury to occur because of the work performed by the business.</li> <li><strong>Products Liability</strong> – the potential for products manufactured by a business to cause harm or injury</li> <li><strong>Injury to employees</strong> – laws exist that dictate the liability a business owner can have when an employee is injured during the course of employment.</li> <li><strong>Professional liability</strong> – Professionals, for example doctors and lawyers, can have additional legal duties placed on them because of their professional status.</li> <li><strong>Management Liability</strong> – the potential for directors and officers of a business to be liable because of their responsibilities to those they serve.</li> </ul> <p>Let our agency help you determine what risks your business can face and the appropriate insurance coverage you need so you can rest easy knowing you are properly covered at a cost that can meet your budget. Contact us at <strong>219-362-2113</strong> or complete our <a href="http://www.genins.com/contact.aspx">Contact</a> form. Find out more about <a href="http://www.genins.com/business/default.aspx" class="ApplyClass">Business Insurance</a>. </p> urn:uuid:5bf8859d-346e-461b-a117-59470f831e09Ever wondered why are your friend’s auto insurance rates are cheaper than your own? Factors like territory you live in, car model, and driver's age can all affect your insurance rates. Read the full article to learn more. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:40:53 -0500<p>Ever wondered why are your friend’s auto insurance rates are cheaper than your own? Factors like territory you live in, car model, and driver's age can all affect your insurance rates. Read the full <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2784751">article</a> to learn more.</p> urn:uuid:9cbc803d-5743-48d4-8439-484ab250a22cBusiness clients.&nbsp; Look at the attached&nbsp;document from Society Insurance Company.&nbsp; They are a great carrier.&nbsp; This gives some great tips on protection from data breach.&nbsp;This is a very hot topic. Business Privacy and Data Prot...Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:30:32 -0500Business clients.&nbsp; Look at the attached&nbsp;document from Society Insurance Company.&nbsp; They are a great carrier.&nbsp; This gives some great tips on protection from data breach.&nbsp;This is a very hot topic.<br /> <p></p> <a href="/img/%7Ewww.genins.com/10-30-09%20Data%20Protection%20Selective.pdf" target="_blank">Business Privacy and Data Protection Tips</a> <p></p> urn:uuid:efde98fa-e47d-4505-b8af-d0e55d8fc75eKeep in mind that filing multiple claims in a short period of time could result in increased rates.Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:03:22 -0500<span class=subPrimaryTextCell id=DataGrid1__ctl2_blog_entry>Keep in mind that filing multiple claims in a short period of time could result in increased rates.</span>urn:uuid:2f23185e-ecb7-4a6f-8ec3-8b86ade4dfdcFinancial Advisors Recommend that you buy the highest deductible you can afford.&nbsp; Keep in mind that you may have multiple claims in any one year so if you have a $1000 deductible and three claims you could have $3000 out of pocket in any one yea...Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:58:36 -0500Financial Advisors Recommend that you buy the highest deductible you can afford.&nbsp; Keep in mind that you may have multiple claims in any one year so if you have a $1000 deductible and three claims you could have $3000 out of pocket in any one year.